Maresca says Man City need experienced signings after key departures

Enzo Maresca has admitted Manchester City must bolster their squad with experienced additions after the departures of Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Nathan Ake this summer.

Silva joined Real Madrid and Stones moved to Inter Milan as free agents, while Ake completed a transfer to Fenerbahce. The trio's exit has left City's dressing room noticeably lighter on proven winners.

City have already been active in the market, signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a reported £116m and 17-year-old Jeremy Monga from Leicester City. The club have also been linked with Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi and Chelsea's Pedro Neto.

However, Maresca could lose another key figure in Rodri, with the 2026 World Cup winner heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid.

The Italian coach conceded that while City's squad remains strong across the pitch, the missing ingredient is experience.

"Fortunately, this is a squad that doesn't need to do many things," Maresca said. "At the same time, as we already know the club lost important players in terms of experience like Bernardo, John and Nathan."

"Hugo [Viana, director of football] is here, also Ferran [Soriano, chief executive] is here and we just try to speak day by day to see if we need to do something."

"For sure, there are things that we need to do. We are in communication every day. The transfer window is open and when it's open anything can happen."

Pre-season schedule ahead

City have two more pre-season games to play, against K-League Stars and Atletico Madrid, before they face Arsenal in the Community Shield on August 16. Maresca's side begin their Premier League campaign a week later at home to Bournemouth.